Top tourist attractions in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul offers an intoxicating mix of old and new. Ancient temples and palaces lie side by side with towering skyscrapers, thriving shopping, and sleek, modern buildings.

Hangang Park

Bordering the Han River which flows through Seoul, Hangang Park actually consists of 13 distinct parks and there are loads of leisure activities for visitors to enjoy. With swimming pools, bike paths and football pitches lying alongside tennis courts and large green spaces, there is something for everyone, and there are also lots of watersports on offer such as yachting and water-skiing. Relaxing amongst the nature of Hangang Park will refresh you and leave you ready to explore the rest of Seoul’s amazing sights.

Cheonggyecheon

Wandering along this artificial stream that runs through Seoul is an increasingly popular thing to do; Cheonggyecheon’s peaceful ambiance makes you feel like you are a million miles from the city’s bustling streets. Plants and trees line the scenic walkways that border the stream. At night, street performers put on entertainment while light shows so prettily illuminate the water. A tranquil spot, use Cheonggyecheon’s secluded paths to get about the city with ease.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

Inside the five huge halls, you can find the Design Museum, which offers an interesting look at innovative and creative Korean designs, as well as the Design Market, where you can try out new inventions and experience cutting-edge technologies that have just hit the market. There are loads to see and do, and numerous conferences, exhibitions, trade shows, and fashion shows are hosted here, so keep an eye out for any event that particularly interests you.

Noryangjin Fish Market

The largest and oldest market in South Korea, Namdaemun is a bustling place to visit. You can buy anything from cheap jewelry and clothes to traditional souvenirs and electronics. A very popular place among tourists and locals, there is a dynamic feel about the market, with colorful advertisements popping out at you from every angle. With lots of great restaurants and food stalls, it is also a nice spot to head if you want to sample some of Seoul’s fantastic street food.

Lotte World

A very popular attraction amongst locals, Lotte World is very much Seoul’s version of Disneyland. Children will barely be able to contain themselves once they see all the rides. Whether it’s splashing log rides that you’re after or the adrenaline filled ‘French Revolution’ roller coaster, Lotte World is one of the best places in Seoul if you’re looking for a fun time out.

N Seoul Tower

One of the most recognizable landmarks in South Korea, the tower is located on Mount Namsan. There is a fun cable car ride which you can take to reach it. On one roof terrace, there are thousands of locks, left by lovers to immortalize their eternal love. At night, the observation and communication tower is delightfully illuminated against the dark sky and the panoramas of Seoul lit up in the darkness is equally mesmerizing.

See more: Spend a day exploring DMZ in South Korea

Source Touropia

Mut, the traditional food on Tet in Vietnam

Mut Tet (Tet jam) is not a food to serve in a meal during Tet holiday, but more like a snack to welcome guests in this special period. Mut is always kept in beautiful boxes and placed at the table in the living room, and it is the main food for the owners and guests to taste when they are talking, enjoying over a cup of tea.

Unlike Western jam, which is usually in liquid form and served with bread, "Vietnamese jam" is mainly in dry form, usually dried fruits and some kind of seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, watermelon seeds).

Coconut jam

Coconut jam is the oldest, through many years with all our Vietnam. Over many changes, traditionally coconut jam still keeps taste: just sweet, moderate fat, chewy and crunchy, very interesting. Coconut Jam is an option and is the favorite of the majority of people. The chef has impressive creations when they make many unique coconut jam. Coconut jam just has a monotonous white color, at the moment coconut jam has seven natural color liked such as pandan coconut jam, chocolate coconut jam, milk coffee, milk.

Bean jam

Each kind of bean has its own interesting shape, so you can make your own type of jam with your own favorite kind of bean. It is easy to make bean jam. Boiling beans with water and then mixing with sugar. The meaning of beans jam is the success for everyone. Some of the kinds bean jam: bush bean jam, peanut jam, and lotus seed jam.

Bulb jam

With the buttery taste of bulb, we easily to make a lot of delicious bulb jam such as potato jam, sweet potato jam and carrot jam.

Read more: Vietnam's traditional foods during Tet

Kumquat jam

To be hometown of cranberry, so Hoi An is also famous for folk cranberry jam. Making cranberry jam is a meticulous process but very exciting for the housewife: selecting fresh cranberry fruits on twigs, to peel, seed and heat until they turn into jam. The cranberry jam jar finished with a clear golden color of crystallized sugar, look just want to eat immediately. Kinds of cranberry jam have various tastes to suitable with each person: dry cranberry jam, wet cranberry jam, cranberry jam attach peel. Cranberry jam is bitter and sweet, so it has positive effects on digestion, cough and some other diseases.

Source Hoian Tourism

Flowers and plants loved by Vietnamese during Tet holiday

Tet is a special occasion for many Vietnamese to decorate their homes with a vast choice of colorful and meaningful ornamental plants. Now let’s take a look at some of the most popular auspicious plants for Tet holiday and every day after.

1. Peach Blossom (Hoa Đào)

If you ever pay a visit to Hanoi during Lunar New Year, you will definitely agree that all over the place is covered with a cheerful color coming from these pink petals of peach blossoms. This kind of plant is known as an iconic flower for Northern Vietnamese when it comes to spring. It is believed that not only peach blossoms can chase away evil spirit, but they also bring in a fresh vitality to your home, which helps you stay healthy and peaceful. Not just that, if you are a businessman, then peach blossom cannot be forgotten due to its symbol as fertility and hope.

The best place to see the flowers is Nhat Tan (Nhật Tân) peach blossom garden located in Au Co Street, Hanoi.

2. Apricot Blossom (Hoa Mai)

Whilst peach blossom is the most popular Tet holiday’s auspicious flower in Northern Vietnam, apricot blossom can be seen as the spirit of Tết for Southern Vietnamese. Contrary to the pink that gets a great harmony with the freeze and coldness in the North, yellow petals from apricot blossoms represent for the torrid heat and humidity Southern Vietnamese have been enduring all year round. An image of five-petal apricot blossom symbolizes for “Five Blessings” in Oriental belief: longevity, wealth, peace, health and love of virtue, which mark the dearest hope of every Vietnamese in particular and Asian in general. Coincidentally, the word “Yellow” (vàng) in Vietnamese sounds identical to the word “Gold” or “Golden” (vàng). Consequently, apricot blossoms are decorated in most of the houses with a hope of good luck, happiness and, prosperity.

3. White daffodil (Hoa Thủy Tiên Trắng)

Apart from peach blossoms, white daffodils find favor with lots of Hanoi citizens in terms of their multi-function and symbolic meaning. Unlike any other holiday ornamental plants, every single part of a daffodil can be exerted: flowers, fragrance, leaves and tuberous roots. Water must be replaced in every morning in order that roots can be kept clean and not turn smeared. According to Oriental or Asian outlook, this plant bears a good meaning. Word-of-mouth has it that, if  white daffodils bloom right in the moment of  New Year’s Eve in one’s house, the whole family will end up with happiness, good luck, and prosperity. Bưởi market, a local village fair in Hà Nội, is where people always come to find white daffodils by the time of Tết. Besides using them as ornamental plants, trimming and arranging the daffodil flowers can be an absolutely great art.

4. Kumquat tree (Cây Quất)

Vietnamese believe that owning a luxuriant kumquat tree in the middle of their home brings good health and good luck to their business.  It is a symbol for a greatly prosperous year ahead. Hence, there is no doubt to see kumquat trees displayed for sale at every single corner of the street in many flower markets all over Vietnam. Located next to China, Vietnam has adopted a lot of Chinese cultures, customs, and beliefs. Feng Shui is not an exception. As a result, planting and trimming a kumquat tree must be conformed to some decorating rules, in order to turn it into a perfect shape. An ideal sample of kumquat tree will have big shiny dark green leaves, and all the fruits must bear a similarity in size and give a juicy look. When people are running a business, they should place a kumquat tree at the front door of their offices or stores so that it can bring wealth and clear sight. That is the reason why man must serve good experience in life as well as Feng Shui application once it comes to purchase and display kumquat trees.

5. Fig (Sung)

Rather than being seen as a usual tree in a back garden of someone’s house during Lunar New Year, figs are usually displayed as one of the main fruits on a five-fruit tray, especially in Southern Vietnam. A typical five –fruit tray will include custard-apples, coconuts, papayas, mangoes, and figs, which can be literally translated as “wishing for a well-off life” in Vietnamese when combined in sound. By itself, “fig” in Vietnamese sounds identical to “comfortable”, “well-off” or “prosperous”. Apparently, we can totally understand why figs are favored by Vietnamese during Lunar New Year.

See more: Where to travel in Vietnam during Tet?

Source: mazevietnam